As a self-confessed app enthusiast and productivity nerd, my browser is pretty much a revolving door of new digital tools. It’s a jungle out there in the Chrome Web Store, with loads of extensions promising to make your digital life easier, faster, or just generally better. The trick, of course, is finding the ones that actually deliver.
Over the years, I’ve tested my fair share, desperately trying to rein in a brain that sometimes feels like it’s juggling flaming chainsaws. So, let’s look at some of the best Chrome extensions I’ve found, drawing on what the experts and other users reckon are worth a look.
These aren’t just random picks; they’re tools designed to help you manage tasks, stay focused, protect your privacy, and generally get more done without feeling like you’re swimming through digital treacle.
Boosting Productivity
If your goal is to streamline your work and conquer that never-ending to-do list, these extensions could be just the ticket.
Todoist for Chrome
Task management is absolutely key, and few things are as satisfying as ticking items off a list. Todoist is a popular choice, and its Chrome extension is spot on for speeding up the process. You can add tasks directly from your browser, even saving entire websites or selected text as tasks. It integrates seamlessly and syncs across devices, so your list is always handy. While the free plan has limitations, the convenience for managing tasks is quite high.
Momentum
For a less feature-heavy, more inspirational approach to starting your browsing session, Momentum is lovely. It replaces your standard new tab page with a personalised dashboard showing the time, weather, a motivational quote, and a main focus for the day. It’s a simple reminder to stay on track when you open a new tab intending to wander off.
StayFocused
Sometimes, you just need a firm hand to stop you from getting sidetracked. StayFocused lets you set time limits for those tempting “distractor” websites. Once you’ve hit your limit, you’re locked out for the rest of the day. It’s a straightforward way to cut down on time-wasters. Other users have mentioned similar site blockers like Blocksite.co or Sidekick.
Workona Tab Manager / OneTab
Ever find yourself drowning in a sea of tabs? Tab managers are a lifesaver. Workona organises your tabs and resources into customisable workspaces for different projects or activities. OneTab converts all your open tabs into a single list, freeing up memory and helping you browse faster. You can then open them individually as needed. Users on Reddit also recommended OneTab for minimising tabs and Workona for tab management.
The Marvellous Suspender
If actively managing tabs feels like too much faff, this extension is a more passive solution. It automatically puts unused tabs to sleep after a set time, which saves your computer’s memory and helps Chrome run more smoothly. A quick click wakes the tab back up.
Staying Safe Online
The web can be a bit of a minefield for privacy and security. Ad trackers, pop-ups, and malicious sites are constant threats. These extensions help protect you.
Ad Blockers
Blocking ads is crucial for eliminating distractions and protecting your privacy. AdBlock is mentioned as being excellent for blocking pop-ups, ads, and banners, improving page loading times, and enabling malware-free browsing. However, due to changes with Google’s Manifest V3 framework, some older favourites like uBlock Origin (the original version) are no longer officially supported or may not work as effectively on Chrome in 2025. Experts now recommend alternatives that are unaffected or compliant with Manifest V3.
Extensions like Total Adblock, Surfshark CleanWeb, NordVPN Threat Protection, AdGuard, and AdLock are highlighted as effective options that block intrusive ads and trackers, often improving page speed and offering security features like malware protection. Adblock Plus is also noted as having a free Chrome extension that works out of the box and allows some customisation. Trend Micro Check is another option that analyses websites for suspicious content, blocking ads and warning you about fraudulent or malicious sites.
Password Managers
Remembering unique, strong passwords for every single site is impossible for most of us. A password manager is essential. Extensions like 1Password or LastPass store your logins securely behind one master password. They can also generate complex passwords and automatically fill in login forms.
Duck Duck Go Privacy Essentials
If you’re serious about online privacy, this extension blocks third-party trackers and cookies, prevents browser fingerprinting, and forces sites to use secure HTTPS encryption. It even gives websites a privacy grade.
Privacy Badger
This tool learns which sites are trying to track you and automatically blocks them. It sends a Do Not Track signal and starts blocking if the site ignores it or if the same tracker appears on multiple sites.
Writing and Research Aids
Whether you’re drafting emails, writing essays, or researching online, these tools can give you a helping hand.
Grammarly
For impeccable grammar and polished writing, Grammarly is a fantastic toolkit. It checks for typos, grammar, clarity, engagement, and overall delivery. It can help with professional emails and even offers an AI assistant to generate ideas or draft content. While advanced features require a paid account, the basic corrections are incredibly useful. It integrates with Google Workspace and works across various websites and apps. Some users mentioned using it, although noting the cost.
Cite This For Me: Web Citer
Citing sources can be tedious. This extension helps by generating correctly formatted academic citations simply by visiting the website and clicking the extension. You can choose from different referencing styles. It can also help create citations for books, newspapers, and journals on its official page.
Evernote Web Clipper / Save to Pocket / Google Keep
Web clippers are brilliant for saving online content for later. Evernote Web Clipper allows you to clip entire articles or segments, including images and links. You can highlight and add notes directly to the clipped page before saving. Save to Pocket lets you add articles and videos to a reading list with one click, which can be accessed offline and organised with tags. However, a note of caution: Pocket is due to shut down in July 2025. Google Keep is a simple, integrated option for quickly jotting down ideas or saving web pages as notes. It syncs across devices and allows for colour-coding and labelling.
Utility and Workflow Enhancements
Beyond the core categories, several extensions offer handy features to make your daily browsing smoother.
Nimbus Screenshot and Screen Video Recorder
This 2-in-1 tool is great for capturing your screen. You can capture entire pages or selected areas, record videos, and edit screenshots by adding text or highlights. It’s user-friendly and can be a real time-saver for creating visual guides or sharing information.
Scribe
Similar to Nimbus but more focused on creating step-by-step guides, Scribe records your clicks and keystrokes to automatically generate illustrated instructions. It saves you the faff of manually taking and annotating screenshots.
Just Read
Some websites are cluttered with distractions. This extension acts like a reader mode, removing ads, sidebars, and other elements to give you a clean, uninterrupted reading experience.
Extensity
The more extensions you install, the busier your toolbar gets. Extensity adds an icon that lists all your extensions, allowing you to quickly toggle them on or off. It’s a simple way to keep your toolbar tidy without having to uninstall extensions you use sometimes.
Finding the best Chrome extensions for you really depends on your specific needs and workflow. There are countless options available, covering everything from language learning with tools like Language Reactor to managing time zones with Figure it Out. The key is to experiment and see which tools genuinely save you time and reduce frustration. Don’t be afraid to try a few in each category to discover your personal favourites.
